Announcements :

Love South Florida! : We're partnering with churches all over Broward County to do local missions and impact our community. Join us on Nov. 12th as we will be serving on campus and off campus with 300 volunteers that day. See Web site and/or App for details...

NEXT STEPS class:Nov.6th at 12 noon in the Volunteer center. Come and find out more about West Pines ! Hope to see you there.

Spanish Translation:Now available during 10:30 & 12 noon services.

You can now invite friends or family members who speak spanish to join us on Sundays!

** Very Important : Please click on the link below for the week # 7 Leader video :

[vimeo 189528384 width="640" height="360"]

Main Text: Matthew 25: 31-46

Sermon Title:Love South Florida, Part 1:

"What Love Looks Like"

Sermon Topic: (Not to be read or e-mailed to your group … this is for the leader’s review and recollection)

Jesus tells a parable about His return. One day He will come back down to earth and sit on the throne. He will judge all of the human race. He says that He wills separate the sheep and the goats. The sheep are welcomed in. But the goats are sent to outer darkness. It is a metaphor for where each person will spend eternity.

In the parable He describes what the dividing line is. The sheep clothed and and fed and healed and served the needy. The goats did not.

So, is Jesus saying that if you help the needy you will make it into heaven? Absolutely not. That would violate the rest of scripture. Titus 3:5 tells us that we are saved not by works of righteousness that we have done, but by His mercy. Ephesians 2:8-9says we are saved by grace and through faith, not by our works. So then what is Jesus saying?

He is saying that serving the needy among us, is such a common attribute of His followers, that it could be a dividing line. It is so foundational to what it means to be a Christian, that it unavoidably flows out of our faith.

Does that mean that everyone who helps the poor is a Christian. That is not true either. Jesus is careful to word it “what you did for the least of these, you did for me.”Christians serve Jesus by serving the poor. It flows out of our commitment to Him.

We are taking a step forward towards that this month, by joining other churches in the Love South Florida initiative here in Broward county.

SUGGESTED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS...

HIGH/LOW:What was the high point of your week and the low point?

Please read: Matthew 25: 31-46

What does the "Gospel" say about us (people)? What does it say about God?

Humanity is free to believe whatever it wants, but what is the biblical reality about judgement?

The passage speaks about eternal destinations - Heaven (the Kingdom) and Hell (eternal fire). What does thispassagesay about those who will spend eternity in heaven? What about those who will spend it in hell?

According to this passage what is the common attribute of a follower of Jesus that indicates he/she is a believer?

Is serving, helping, and loving the "least of these" a general depiction of our lives (does it mark our life)? Should it?

Why is serving the “least of these” a natural outflow of a life impacted by the Gospel?

Lets talk "practical," what are some needs that you already see around you?

How can this become part of the culture of our lives? Our families?

What are you and your family going to sign up to do this month?

Theme/Quote:

Have you ever known a family that all have a similar look about them? Maybe you can’t even put your finger on it, but it is unmistakable. You are convinced that if you lined up 50 people and mixed in members of that family, you could pick them out. Jesus uses a similar metaphor to describe his followers. In a parable Jesus tells how one day He will sit on a throne to judge humanity. He says he will separate those who are His followers from those who are not. He explains how there is one quality that His followers all have. This attribute is so commonplace that he can use it as the basis for identifying those who are His. Those who are saved by the grace of God will have an undeniable compulsion. The gospel plants a seed in us. Since Jesus sacrificed everything to save us who were spiritually poor, we cannot help but to sacrifice ourselves for the “least of these” among us.

Have you ever known a family that all have a similar look about them? Maybe you can’t even put your finger on it, but it is unmistakable. You are convinced that if you lined up 50 people and mixed in members of that family, you could pick them out. Jesus uses a similar metaphor to describe his followers. In a parable Jesus tells how one day He will sit on a throne to judge humanity. He says he will separate those who are His followers from those who are not. He explains how there is one quality that His followers all have. This attribute is so commonplace that he can use it as the basis for identifying those who are His. Those who are saved by the grace of God will have an undeniable compulsion. The gospel plants a seed in us. Since Jesus sacrificed everything to save us who were spiritually poor, we cannot help but to sacrifice ourselves for the “least of these” among us.